The Eagles may have fallen short of defending their Super Bowl crown this season, but one of their most dedicated fans just brought a different kind of title back to Philadelphia - and it's one that speaks volumes about passion, loyalty, and community impact.
Ed Callahan, a 79-year-old retired naval officer and lifelong Eagles devotee, was named the NFL’s 2025 Fan of the Year at Thursday night’s NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco. And if you’ve ever been near Lincoln Financial Field on game day, there’s a good chance you’ve felt the ripple effects of his presence - even if you didn’t know it.
Callahan is the heart and soul of the legendary Lot E tailgates, where football fandom meets philanthropy. These aren’t just pregame parties.
They’re fundraising machines, and Callahan has turned his love for the Birds into a force for good, raising an incredible $504,000 to date for the Eagles Autism Foundation. Just in 2025 alone, he pulled in over $82,000 - a staggering number that speaks not only to his commitment, but to the community he’s built around the cause.
The Eagles made sure he felt the love. In a moment captured on social media, Callahan was surprised by none other than Dom “Big Dom” DiSandro, the team’s head of security and a fan favorite in his own right.
DiSandro led him into a room where Eagles veteran Brandon Graham, mascot Swoop, and others were waiting to celebrate his big win. It was a fitting tribute for a man who’s been riding with the team since 1954, when he attended his first game at Shibe Park.
He’s held season tickets since 1997, but his connection to the franchise runs far deeper than the seat numbers on his ticket stubs.
This wasn’t just a local honor, either. Callahan was selected from a group of 32 superfans - one representing each NFL team - and came out on top as the league’s ultimate supporter. He was named the Eagles’ Fan of the Year back in November, putting him in the running for the national recognition he now holds.
As part of the award, Callahan will be attending Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, where the Patriots and Seahawks will battle for the Lombardi Trophy. And while the Eagles won’t be on the field, they’ll be represented in the stands - by a fan who embodies everything the franchise stands for.
“I’m finally starting to realize that, hey, this thing is getting bigger than me,” Callahan said back in November. “And as I said, it’s humbling.”
It’s more than humbling. It’s inspiring. In a league full of stars, Ed Callahan is proof that sometimes, the biggest impact comes from the people outside the lines - the ones who bleed team colors, build community, and show us what it really means to be a fan.